Yesterday, Chris Thunder was denied bail. After waiting for hours until the very end of the docket, Chris’ partner and supporters were forced to leave the courthouse without Chris; his bail had been postponed. He has been in custody since August 20th.

Chris will be attending his preliminary hearing (which has now been merged with his bail hearing) Tuesday October 21st at the Brantford courthouse on Queen st. Anyone who is able to go should attend in solidarity with Chris. Court starts at 10am. For rides from Guelph, please email us.

Friends visited him at the Brantford jail yesterday after he returned from the courthouse. He seemed in good spirits. However, he has been living in segregation and that is where he is likely to return.

Once again, your money is a huge help. Please throw some cash to the legal fund:

Christopher Thunder was arrested on August 20, 2014, (and is still incarcierated) while he was waiting for a ride to Hamilton, so he could catch the bus to the People’s Social Forum where he was invited to participante in the People of Colour and Native Youth delegation. Chris was arrested for an alledged breach because at that moment it is alledged that he was not with his sureties. Chris has remained in jail since this unlucky event, where he was clearly targeted by the OPP.

The conditions that got him in jail were set because Chris had allegedly missed a court date while on a healing journey across Canada. This journey began when Chris joined Onkwehonwe from Saskatchewan in a walk to Ottawa, entitled “Journey for Earth”, to raise awareness of Bills C-27, C-38, C-45, C-428, S-2, S-6, S-8, S-212, and the illegal international deal known as FIPA, and to spread awareness about the uranium mining and processing. Returning to Saskatchewan with the walkers, Chris then joined the Tar Sands Healing Walk, a National Treaty Gathering and Pow wow (where Chris performed Smoke Dance), an Honour the Apology Gathering, and the Unist’ot’en camp, where Chris helped the Unist’ot’en build a pit house on the proposed route of the Pacific Trails Pipeline.

Since this journey, Chris, along with women warriors he met during the healing walk, went on another journey to New Brunswick to Mi’kmaq territory, Elsipogtog, and joined the camp set up in the way of where they had proposed to frack.

Direct Action is very important to Chris, and also likely the reason that he has been targeted. He is not trying to run away from his legal responsibilities to go to court, but is rather embracing his responsibility as a Haudenesaunee to protect the land.

We need to raise $2000 for his lawyers fee to get him out of jail, where they have held him for over a month now. Anyone who knows Chris knows that he never stands back and watches, but puts his heart, body and soul into every event he takes part in. Please help this warrior by donating to his legal fund and by sending your prayers for him. Nya:weh

More on Chris:
Christopher is a land defender, and he was a political prisoner. He participated in the 2006 Grand River land dispute standoff, where he was camped out for months to demand the stop of development by the Henco Industries on Six Nations territory, where Chris was arrested. After that Chris has done what he can for his community and for Mother Earth, especially though direct action. He went on a march to stop the construction of a bigger police station on Six Nations, when a youth centre was desperately needed. From this he set out his goal in life, to open up a youth centre on the trail on Six Nations, where kids and youth can come and participate in obstacle courses and traditional teachings, where free food are offered to all.

On Thursday, September 11th 2014 Joel Bitar was driven to the border, where he was met with loved ones. Below is his statement from his blog. Thank you to everyone who gave Joel support!! To the end of prisons!!

Joel’s Blog: Free at Last!

For folks who have been following my blog over the months you may have noticed that I hadn’t posted anything in a while. There was a reason. Back in mid-August my parole (parole for deportation) was granted!

A couple of days ago, 2 weeks after my parole eligibility day, I was driven to Niagra Falls by Canadian border police in handcuffs and dropped off on the U.S. side. U.S. Customs and Border Police then took my fingerprints, scanned my passport for outstanding warrants and eventually a door was opened and my freedom became official.

My parole conditions are basic: don’t associate with anyone with a criminal record, attend counseling and don’t attempt to return to Canada. If I return to Canada they can hold me for the duration of my sentence, which is September, 2015.

So it’s finally over, I can’t believe it. Getting out of jail is one of the best freaking feelings in the world. It’s also kind of overwhelming. Emotionally speaking, I got out of there relatively unscathed. I did pick up a bunch of scars, bumps and injuries (mostly all connected to jail soccer games, therefore totally worth it). All-in-all I feel the same. If anything the experience made me tougher, stronger and wiser. I hope to be a source of information and support for those who will inevitably be put through the prison system in the future.

I want to thank everyone who submitted parole letters on my behalf. The parole board received over 30 letters (they couldn’t believe it, they were shocked) and they read every single one. Each letter was integral in winning my freedom. Thank you to each of you who took some time to do that, I wouldn’t be free right now if it wasn’t for you.

I also want to thank everyone who corresponded with me over the past 7 months and I want to apologize to those whom I never replied. Each letter I received made my day a little brighter and allowed me to maintain emotional stability during dark times. My incarceration was a case study in how to do solid prisoner support work. The amount of solidarity I received throughout the process was outstanding and I wouldn’t be in such good shape right now without it.

So thank you, thank you, thank you folks. I can’t wait to give you all a hug when I see you. My heart is filled with so much joy right now.

George Horton, G20 Prisoner, has returned to jail after being released pending his appeal, which was recently denied.

George Horton is being held in Lindsay, ON at the Central East Correctional Facility. He is expected to do at least 4 months there, up to 8 months (at worst).

George participated courageously in the mass demonstrations against the G20 in June of 2010. He has remained courageous and intransigent in the face of the repression of the courts and jail.

Since June of 2010, he has supported G20 defendants and prisoners. Rather than seeking the state and corporate media’s mercy by condemning the diverse tactics of community-based resistance mounted against the G20 in2010, George has consistently condemned this repression.

If you wish to write to George send him letters at the following address:

In September 2010, George was arrested in connection with actionscconnected with mass demonstrations against the G20 on the weekend of June 25-27, 2010 in toronto.

After conviction, George was sentenced September 28, 2012 to 10 months for Assault Police, 10 months for Intimidation of “Peace” Officer, 2 months for being Masked with Intent and 2 months for 3 counts of Mischief over $5000, to be served concurrently. This meant that he was to serve 10 months in total.

After serving 2 months, George was released on bail, pending the resolution of an appeal of his convictions for Assault Police and Intimidation of “Peace” Officer.

On August 26, 2014, George’s appeal was dismissed and his convictions upheld. He has been returned to Central East Correctional Centre, Lindsay, Ontario.

Before I begin this post, I want to mention that although it’s wonderful
getting letters in here, it’s not so wonderful for some people who see me
getting them. Most of my fellow prisoners get no mail at all. When they
observe me receiving so much mail, it reminds them of how alone they are in
here. Some folks supporting me have sporadically offered to be pen-pals to
some of my fellow prisoners so I want to use this blog post to formally ask
you all who are reading this to write a friend of mine in here.

His name is Michael. He’s a 40 year old Jamaican guy who has a wonderfully
positive personality. He could pass for a Buddhist, so impressive is his
ability to make light of a terrible situation. Please send him a short
letter just to let him know that he’s not alone. It will make his day. He
told me he’s really interested in getting a letter from a woman. Like all
heterosexual males locked up, he definitely craves female attention. His
address is:

Michael Grant
1501 Fuller Ave
Penetanguishene, ON L9M 2H4, Canada

Back to the topic at hand. Conflict in life is inevitable when you have
various competing interests. Conflict in jail is a scientific certainty
because all the people with competing interests are trapped together. Walking
away isn’t an option because there is nowhere to go. If someone calls you
a “bitch” on the street, you can literally turn and walk in the opposite
direction. That privilege doesn’t exist here. There’s no walking away. Every
conflict needs to be resolved and this is usually a torturous and stressful
process.

Because of who I am – someone who is geeky-looking, educated, and generally
different – I have become the target of certain individuals. I attract
unwanted attention. So, in response, I am changing. I talk to people as
minimally as possible and avoid letting them see the real me. I keep them
guessing.

One verifiable truth about jail: people generally confuse kindness for
weakness. One of my theories is that some people have never been shown
kindness so they immediately assume that there must be something wrong with
a kind person. People here will abuse your kindness. If you give them
something – an item like a newspaper – they will begin to expect and even
demand more of the same in the future. Then, if you decide to cut them
off, they will immediately resent you and a conflict is born.

So, I’ve decided to learn how to fight. It’s imperative that I have some
idea of how to defend myself against the chaotic and hard to predict
violence of jail. Better to be prepared than not. Through some clever
jail engineering, I’ve managed to hang a rolled-up mattress off the top
bunk in my cell. Every other day I set it up, wrap my wrists and hands,
and go at it. I never punched with my left hand before – I’m developing a
quick jab. It’s great exercise and after 20 minutes, I’m shirtless in my
cell sweating profusely.

For anyone about to go to jail: take MMA, boxing, or some type of martial
arts training. Don’t sit around for months stewing in self-pity like I did.
Knowing that you can defend yourself will prove invaluable. It will give
you confidence and allow you to assert yourself. People will be less
likely to take advantage of you.

When I first came here, I met a young man who got half his ear bitten off
in a fight. He said to me, “People mistake kindness for weakness.” At the
time I shrugged him off but he was speaking truth and he learned it the
hard way. I came to jail with the idea that criminals are better than
everyone else: an enlightened segment of society. The truth is that
criminals are just people – some are good, some are bad, some are very very
bad, and they are the reason for my training.

Rick came home on the 17th of June. His partner and two friends went right to the border at rainbow bridge and picked him up! He is doing good, back to work already. He has to pay fines of $3000. He worked out a pay plan where he pays $400 a month. He also has to call his parroll officer once a month to check in.

Thank you to all who sent in letters to Rick and showed him your support!

Since 2010 I’ve feared for my freedom in the outside world. Now in 2014 sentenced for my crimes 4 years ago at the G20 summit in Toronto, Ontario I worry daily for those who stuck their necks out there to defend me. My very close friend Evan Potts donated around 5000 dollars to help his friend pay his legal fees. Without him I would not have had legal representation for my trial hearings and sentencing. I would have been in prison longer and would not have had 37 of my 53 charges dropped. He is not the only one that helped me through this. My 90 year old grandmother stepped up to the plate. She was the only family member that donated money to my cause. She helped me and let me borrow 8000 dollars on top of all the other money she put into the cause. There is nothing I can do in prison to try and pay them back. I’m crying out for help in this situation I face. Being the good friend Evan is I only have to pay him back half of the money that I owe him a total of 2500 dollars. All together including both of them I need to raise 10, 500$. This is a callout for help. There’s nothing I can do in prison but as soon as I get out I’m going to work toward my goal everyday. On top of all my worries I fear for my grandmother’s health and I don’t want her last memories of me being a prisoner who couldn’t keep his word. My thanks go out to those who read this and to everyone who has helped even in small ways you know who you are.

Today in the Cook County Criminal Courthouse, the NATO 3 were sentenced to between 5 and 8 years in prison. The prosecutors had argued that they should receive 14 years and serve their sentences consecutively, whereas the defense attorneys had obviously argued that they should receive light sentences, if not simply being sentenced to time served. Brian Jacob Church was sentenced to 5 years, Brent Betterly to 6 years, and Jared Chase to 8 years. They will all serve this time at 50% of the sentenced time (e.g., 6 year sentence equals 3 years served) and will receive credit for the two years they have served pending trial. Upon release, they will each have two years of supervised release as well.

Supporters packed the courtroom for the NATO 3 today despite the draconian restrictions placed on public attendance by the judge. While the prosecutors had plenty of cops lined up to smear the defendants on the stand during the sentencing hearing, their side of the courtroom was notably empty. Not even Anita Alvarez, the head attorney who has been so vocal about the defendants being terrorists, was around today. After the jury issued its verdict, Alvarez claimed in an interview that the prosecutors had not lost the case even though all of their terrorist claims had been rejected. She melodramatically asked if the reporters had forgotten about the Boston Marathon bombing. She even asked one reporter if he would like a Molotov cocktail thrown at him.

Predictably, the prosecutors continued this ludicrous line of reasoning by repeatedly comparing the NATO 3 to the Boston Marathon bombers—with the only difference being that undercover cops had found and stopped them before they did what the bombers had done. This comparison is, of course, absurd and offensive. The defense objected to this comparison but was, predictably, overruled. Also predictably, the judge promoted this twisted perspective in his explanation of his sentencing.

If anything, the court’s blatant, unabashed explanation of this worldview shows all the more clearly how the NATO 3 were set up from the beginning. The undercovers entrapped them so that the case would exactly fit the prosecution’s designs, and the judge was more than happy to push this case along according to the desired script. This is no less of a conspiracy than what the defendants were charged with, albeit more nefarious because it is sanctioned by the spectacle of “justice” called the criminal legal system and enforced by the militarized policing apparatus that aids in the systemic oppression of the masses for the benefit of the elite. With this in mind, solidarity with the NATO 3 must necessarily include continuing to struggle against the economic and political forces that brought them to Chicago in the first place.

As the NATO 3 return to their cells to wait out the next few days before they are transferred to state prison, most of us will return to our homes and our lives. But we must not forget them or our other comrades behind bars. Stay tuned for updated addresses for the 3 so we can flood them with letters, postcards and books as soon as they are transferred. They have hard time yet to serve and we need to make sure they know that they are not alone.

In the near future, we will be sending out more detailed notes from today and updating our zine. In the meantime, check out our storify pages of tweets from the proceedings today.

In May of 2012 five anti fascists were arrested and later that year convicted of taking part in emphatically, stopping a meeting of white supremacists at a restaurant in Tinley Park, which is a Chicago suburb. tinleyparkfive.wordpress.com/about

Cody Lee Sutherlin is one of those 5 and is due to be released from prison by the beginning of June. So , Bloomington ABC , NYC ABC , and Sacramento Prisoner Support have launched a campaign to start a release fund for Cody Lee.

By the time Cody Lee is released he’ll have been locked up for just over two years, will have a felony on is record, and certain things just won’t be the same. Lets help him make a smooth transition! Lets raise some money, and secure a release fund that will welcome him upon his release.

Here is the website that was created for folks to donate to Cody Lee Sutherlin’s Release Fund
online: youcaring.com/welcomehomecody. If for whatever reason you’d rather donate to John offline, please go ahead and make the check out to John Tucker, then mail the check to:

Sacramento Prisoner Support
PO Box 163126
Sacramento, CA 95816

If you’d like to write to Cody to let him know you’re thinking of him and that you’re glad he’s getting out soon, I’m sure he’d love to hear from you. His current address is as follows:

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About Guelph Anarchist Black Cross

The Guelph Anarchist Black Cross Collective is committed to confronting the state, capitalism, colonization, and all forms of exploitation. The function of prisons is inherently codependent with these forces, for neither can exist without the other. We see prison as a daily threat, also manifesting in all aspects of society through surveillance, isolation and repression. We want to contribute to a struggle against prisons, and the world that needs them.click here for more about us